How to get involved

How to join

How to get to the Tour

 

How to get involved
We are always looking for those who want to help organise events, actions, street parties, celebrations, etc. along the route…Or, if you want 50 young rabble-rousers to come visit your community/group… Or if you are interested in giving a workshop on a subject related to what we are promoting… Or if you want to offer us a place to camp or sleep(!).. Please send us an email.

How to Join
You can come for the whole tour or just part of it. Either way, we ask that you fill out an application, found below, so we know when you're coming, for how long, what workshops you can give, etc. Anyone is welcome, as long as you agree to the guidelines below. If you have any more questions check out our FAQ page.

YOU MUST AGREE TO THE FOLLOWING (the full "biketour guidelines" can be found below):
- I will bring my own bike and sleeping equipment.
- I will pay my participation fee on time (the fee is 8 "ecos" per person per day-see www.eyfa.org/ecorates.htm for more info).
- It is my own responsibility to have valid travelling documents and extra money that I might need. [note: UK and Ireland are EXPENSIVE countries. If you would like to see how the costs compare to your country visit: www.eyfa.org/ecorates]
- I will help with all aspects of biketour. This includes cooking, cleaning, washing dishes, buying and preparing food, cycling 60km a day carrying my own luggage, and carrying a trailer if I am able
- I will participate in actions (unless I have a personal/ideological objection).
- I will take part in the decision procedure, attending the group discussions
- All food will be vegetarian.
- It is my decision whether or not to have medical insurance.
- To make known to all participants any health or personal issues that could effect myself or any other person.
- I will bring a sense of humor

phew! Now that you've read all that and agree to it, you can fill out THE BIKETOUR APPLICATION

BIKETOUR GUIDELINES
*1. Come positive, social, and prepared!*
Biketour is a micro-community (but not too hippy and weird). Every person contributes to this community. If you come positive and motivated you will affect the group in a good way, have a great time, and make lots of friends. If you come unprepared, anti-social, and/or unwilling to integrate into the group-you'll be a pain in the ass for everyone else to live with. If you are just coming for a cheap holiday and/or are not really interested in the tour or what we will promote-please don't come.

*2. Volunteer for daily tasks! (Camp clean up, fire-building, cooking, buying food, etc.)*
Biketour is non-hierarchical. This means everyone shares responsibilities and participates in the running of the tour. If you don't volunteer for daily tasks, someone else has to do extra work because you're not doing your share-that sucks.

You volunteer during the daily "short and to the point" morning meetings, which everyone on the tour should attend-since we're ALL running the tour. There is also an overview of the route for that day, and any important decisions, which will be made by the whole group.

*3. Biketour is a grassroots do-it-yourself (DIY) Biketour, be prepared!*
People are expected to be self-sufficient. We do not have much money, so we like to call it grassroots. Accommodation is primarily camping. You bring your own bike, and all materials you need to camp, especially a tent or something waterproof for your sleeping bag. Seeing as Biketour is promoting sustainable transport, we do not use support vehicles [cars]. Just bikes and a few trailers for cooking materials, first-aid kit, etc. So, you carry all your things on your bike.

*4. Come knowing your bike, reasonably fit, and having cycled, at least, a little before!*
There will be a few people on the tour who know about bikes. But, you shouldn't depend on them and it's a good idea to know how to do simple repairs. Bear in mind that you will be cycling 60Km a day, carrying all your things. Your bike as well as you will need to be up to the job. You don't need an expensive bike-but one in good shape, with a good rack and tires, which will survive the occasional bumpy roads. You don't need to be a hard-core, boring cyclist. The fact that Biketour is made up of fairly "normal" and not necessarily athletic people is what makes it fun.

How to get to the Tour
Once you've applied, we'll send you an email about exact directions to get to the starting point in Dover on July 10th. If you plan to meet us somewhere else along the route, you must arrange it with us individually.

If we hear of any good deals on travel, or any tips, we'll let you know (if you've already applied that is).

In general it is easiest to travel on public transport, with a bike, in pairs or small groups. If you are looking for people to travel with TO biketour, there is a public forum on the EYFA website where people can openly post messages:  "Biketour 2002 message forum"